Beyond Meat Opens Second Facility, Hires Hundreds to Keep Up With Demand

Julie Cappiello|

July 3, 2018

In the wake of falling demand for animal products, vegan businesses are booming. In fact, the demand for vegan products is skyrocketing so quickly that companies are having a hard time keeping up.

That’s why Beyond Meat, the makers of the Beyond Burger and Beyond Sausage, is creating a second production facility in Missouri specifically to keep up with demand for its products. This will not only increase production of the mock meats we know and love but create about 250 jobs, representing more than 12 nations among Beyond Meat’s staff members.

The new state-of-the-art facility will have high-efficiency lighting and new water recirculation, reducing water consumption by nearly 80 percent, and will allow the company to test out new products and expand its line. The facility will also increase Beyond Meat’s manufacturing footprint more than threefold, from 30,000 to 100,000 square feet.

Ethan Brown, CEO and founder of Beyond Meat, stated:

Our expansion not only brings more jobs and opportunity to this special community but also furthers Missouri’s position as a leader in the production of plant-based meat.

Beyond Meat’s Beyond Burger debuted next to its meat-based counterparts in 2016 and is sold at thousands of restaurants and grocers. The company also announced a partnership with A&W Canada this past month.

And it’s not just A&W that has created partnerships with the company. Chains like Veggie Grill and TGI Fridays serve Beyond Meat’s products while the company continues its plans to distribute the Beyond Burger in 50 countries across six continents. The burgers—loaded with 20 grams of protein—are gluten- and soy-free, “bleed” pulverized beet juice, and have the look, smell, and taste of meat.

While there are lots of vegan sausages on the market, Beyond Sausage sets itself apart from competitors with its casing made from alginate. This newest product is available in three flavors—bratwurst, sweet Italian, and hot Italian—and one Beyond Sausage link has 14 percent more protein (16 grams per link!), 26 percent less sodium, and 38 percent less saturated fat than its animal-based counterpart. Plus, it’s free of soy, gluten, and genetically modified ingredients!

By garnering investments from the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Bill Gates and selling its vegan products next to their animal-based counterparts at supermarkets, Beyond Meat is changing the game. Even Tyson Foods, the country’s largest meat producer, knows that Beyond Meat rivals meat producers. Tyson invested an undisclosed amount for a 5 percent stake in Beyond Meat in 2016 and invested again in 2017. In a 2017 article, Fast Company explains:

Since its launch in May 2016, the Beyond Burger has become the most successful item on Beyond Meat’s roster, thanks to the company’s efforts to get the vegan burger placed in grocery store meat cases alongside ground beef. In the past year, Beyond Meat has partnered with major grocers and distributors including Safeway, Kroger, and Sysco to get its frozen products into 12,000 stores (the burger is currently in 3,500 outlets).

With consumers increasingly aware of the egregious animal cruelty, environmental damage, and alarming health concerns inherent in meat consumption, it’s no surprise more people are ditching animal-based products for vegan meat alternatives.